We usually arrive in Chippewa Harbor via a hop from Rock Harbor on the Voyageur II, on shorter excursions of six days and five nights, reserving ten-day and nine-night excursions for full cross-island adventures. For the moderately experienced hiker who has about a week to vacation, a Chippewa Harbor to Rock Harbor excursion is perfect.Continue reading “Meditations on the Chippewa Harbor to Rock Harbor Excursion: Part I”
Tag Archives: isle royale
Hiking a Tough Trail with Old Friends
I love a tough trail. When I hike, I’m in my own mental space. I like the sound of my own breath and the reflective effort it takes to navigate a tough trail. My core motivation for hiking has something to do with absorbing the ambiance of the forest, or the waterfront, or cliff edgeContinue reading “Hiking a Tough Trail with Old Friends”
More on Women & Safety on IRNP
My dear friend charged me with having avoided the core topic of the post, “On Women, Safety, and Hiking Isle Royale,” a point that may well be true. So how does the potential for rape or violence against women impact hiking Isle Royale? After all, this is the central issue voiced in the responses to my first post on women solo hikers to which my follow-up intended to respond.
Days 2 & 3 Minong Ridge Trail
2022 July 3 & 4 I made it to Todd Harbor directly from the Voyageur II on Day 1, which was July 2, and set up camp. This was the easy day. On Day 2, I progressed from Todd Harbor into North Desor Campground, traversing 12.4 miles. On Day 3, I continued from North DesorContinue reading “Days 2 & 3 Minong Ridge Trail”
Minong Ridge Trail Hike-July 2-4, ’22
Day One: McCargoe Cove to Todd Harbor On July 2, 2022, Duane and I caught the Voyageur II from Grand Portage to Windigo where we were briefed on Island safety and proceeded to permitting. I reboarded the Voyageur for three hours to McCargoe Cove, the starting point of the Minong Ridge Trail, to start myContinue reading “Minong Ridge Trail Hike-July 2-4, ’22”
Isle Royale Hike in mid-June 2022
On June 11, 2022, I arrived at the Queen IV dock at 7:00 AM and checked in with Miranda at the office. I was excited for my first trip out for the year, even though the forecast was for cold and rain. I felt prepared with my cold-weather gear. Captain Ben and the crew were ready for us to board.
Planning for Needs on Isle Royale
Once you have decided on your itinerary, you are ready to think about all of the things you are going to need while you are on the island. Here, we are sharing an overview of what you will need, and we provide direct links to our free courses to help you examine each topic in more detail. Remember the courses are free, and they provide you with needed information and connections to help you to make sound decisions for yourself about what you will need for your particular backpacking itinerary.
Sheltering on Isle Royale
Shelter is Not an Option–it’s a necessity! Shelter of some sort is a necessity on Isle Royale. You need shelter from cold, wind, and rain. Rain storms can come quickly and last for a few days. Temperatures can get really cold, with temperatures dipping into the 20s or even the teens. In many of theContinue reading “Sheltering on Isle Royale”
Chippewa Harbor to Rock Harbor
The Chippewa Harbor to Rock Harbor hike is one of our favorites because of its leisurely pace, which allows for time to explore attractions on the way. We get to tour along the coast of the island by ferry for spectacular views of the rugged shore from the boat and then hike back along the bays and shorelines, through the forests and over the rocky escarpments for stunning views of the water.
Malone Bay: Intermediate-Advanced
The hike from Malone Bay to Rock Harbor in six days and five nights is an advanced itinerary. This hike can also be done as an intermediate hike, with shorter distances after the first grueling hike up Ishpeming Point to the Greenstone Ridge Trail and down into Hatchet Lake. As an intermediate hike, the itineraryContinue reading “Malone Bay: Intermediate-Advanced”
Day 10 Chippewa Harbor to Atwood Beach
We departed Chippewa Harbor with Dogger. He headed north to catch his boat from Rock Harbor, and we headed south and west out of the mouth of the harbor to our destination at Attwood Beach. We wanted to cross the open water at Siskiwit Bay if the water was calm. Had there been a challenge,Continue reading “Day 10 Chippewa Harbor to Atwood Beach”
Day 7 Daisy Farm to Chippewa Harbor
The paddle from Daisy Farm to Chippewa Harbor was uneventful. The water was glass calm, reflecting the clouds overhead, as we left the Daisy Farm dock just before 10:00 AM ET. As we passed out of Rock Harbor, near the Rock Harbor lighthouse, we were overtaken by a small open boat with a tiny outboardContinue reading “Day 7 Daisy Farm to Chippewa Harbor”
Day 5: Belle Isle around Blake Point through Merritt Lane into Snug Harbor
Belle Isle was lovely with the charm of the beach and the mysterious ruins, the fireplace too formal for its environs and the moss-covered cement stairs ascending up to the promontory to view entrants into the small cove where the paddle craft were landed. Paddling out of the harbor was bittersweet as we looked toward more north-shore paddling past Hill and Locke Points and on toward Blake Point.
Day 3 Huginnin Cove-Little Todd Harbor
As experienced big lake paddlers, we have navigated quite large waves, just not with the straight up cliffs that also descend straight down into the water for 85 to 110 feet to create the rebounding waves that have no forgiveness. We know that Lake Superior claimed 3 paddlers in 2021 and 2 in 2020. We were not interested in joining them.